Author: Tim Tharp
Original Date of Publication: 2006
Main Characters
Hampton Green: High school teenager who is an extraordinary football player. He is the narrator of the book.
Blaine Keller: Hampton's best friend who is also a football player and is the one whose father taught Hampton how to play. Blaine is very controlling over Hampton and Blaine always wants to be the best.
Sarah: Sarah is a girl Hampton likes however, Blaine does not like her because she does not "look the right way". Sarah helps Hampton in finding himself.
Jake: One of Hampton and Blaine's football buddies.
T. Roy: Football star that came from the football team and got drafted to the Dallas Cowboys football team. He was Blaine and Hampton's idol and he is what brought Blaine and Hampton together in the first place.
Tommy Coleridge: Hampton's mom's boyfriend that is very much into football.
Mother of Hampton: Single mother that raises Hampton. Also, Tommy Coleridge's girlfriend.
Setting
Knights of the Hill Country takes place in the small town of Kennisaw, Oklahoma, where football is the only thing that matters. Football is what the town is centered around. On Friday nights, almost all of the residents can be found at the game. When a game isn’t being played, the people of Kennisaw spend their time discussing the team and reliving their own glory moments of being a Kennisaw Knight. Being such a small and not exactly wealthy town, the people of Kennisaw see a career in football as being their only way to a dream life in nearby Dallas, Texas. The area is predominately inhabited by Whites, making Kennisaw a place where racism occurs frequently. The story seems to have taken place in the 90’s, but has elements that can be relatable to the present, as well.
Theme
Questions and Issues
Peer pressure is one of the first issues we see in Knights of the Hill Country. We get the impression that Hampton is very impressionable. One example of this is the relationship between Blaine and Hampton. Blaine is like a brother to Hampton and we see how Blaine overpowers Hampton in a lot of his decisions. We also see peer pressure in the book when Misty asks Hampton to steal the trophy from the elementary school. Hampton does it because he wants to impress Misty and she practically begs him to do it. Peer pressure is something young adults have to deal with every single day, especially when hanging out with their peers. This books targets how Hampton handles peer pressure and how he eventually learns to break away from the mold and be himself.
Another issue we see just briefly in this book is racism. When Hampton is at the local bar with Blaine watching the football games he hears rumors about the new guy his mother has been dating, Tommy Don. In order to find out whether these rumors are true or not Hampton goes straight to the source and talks to Tommy Don. After a long talk over the issue we find out that the rumors were mostly false and instead an issue of racism. Although we do not see racism present anywhere else in Knights of the Hill Country the book still broaches the subject here. Racism is not something as prevalent as it used to be but it is definitely something young adults still face today.
Theme
Theme of this book is choosing to become the kind of person you want to become. Like in football, Hampton becomes an action taker and displays loyalty for his friend. In the story, Hampton gradually becomes disheartened with being a follower, mainly Blaine's follower. The fact that Hampton has turned out to be a very good football player, while Blaine is held back by an untreated knee injury, is one reason for the conflict. Blaine puts a strain on Hampton's straightforward loyalty with his increasingly irrational demands. Among other things, Blaine tries to put a stop to Hampton's interest in a girl Blaine feels isn't suitably popular and good-looking. But Hampton's relationship with Sara helps him think in new ways and break Blaine's hold over him. Hampton wisely realizes that he can love football and play to win without neglecting other possibilities and joys in life.
Questions and Issues
Peer pressure is one of the first issues we see in Knights of the Hill Country. We get the impression that Hampton is very impressionable. One example of this is the relationship between Blaine and Hampton. Blaine is like a brother to Hampton and we see how Blaine overpowers Hampton in a lot of his decisions. We also see peer pressure in the book when Misty asks Hampton to steal the trophy from the elementary school. Hampton does it because he wants to impress Misty and she practically begs him to do it. Peer pressure is something young adults have to deal with every single day, especially when hanging out with their peers. This books targets how Hampton handles peer pressure and how he eventually learns to break away from the mold and be himself.
Another issue we see just briefly in this book is racism. When Hampton is at the local bar with Blaine watching the football games he hears rumors about the new guy his mother has been dating, Tommy Don. In order to find out whether these rumors are true or not Hampton goes straight to the source and talks to Tommy Don. After a long talk over the issue we find out that the rumors were mostly false and instead an issue of racism. Although we do not see racism present anywhere else in Knights of the Hill Country the book still broaches the subject here. Racism is not something as prevalent as it used to be but it is definitely something young adults still face today.
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